Donington's Grand Prix hopes fade

jaffa · 22nd October 2009, 18:55

Donington Park's hopes of staging the British Grand Prix from 2010 look to be over after the operators' latest fund-raising attempts fell through. Earlier this month Donington launched a bond issue in an attempt to raise £135m, but that has now been withdrawn.
Silverstone is ready to step back in if guaranteed the British Grand Prix would remain at the circuit long-term.
Donington, whose operators are yet to comment, have missed several deadlines to provide financial guarantees.
In June, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said there would definitely be a British Grand Prix in 2012, and that it would be at Silverstone if Donington failed to come through.
But more recently he has backtracked and said it is not certain there will be a Grand Prix in Britain next year at all.
Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, the company that operates the track, has faced legal and planning problems since being given the rights to stage the race.
Chief executive Simon Gillett was initially given a deadline of the end of September to demonstrate the funding was in place to carry out the planned multi-million pound revamp of the circuit and its facilities. That deadline was extended by a few days until 3 October.
Motor racing at Donington ceased in September so work could begin to prepare the venue for next year's race.
Silverstone has hosted every British Grand Prix since 1987, while Donington, which is synonymous with MotoGP, has held only one F1 race, the European Grand Prix in 1993.

BBC

hoppy · 27th October 2009, 18:41

Its hardly a suprise its not going ahead and a hope thats not the end of the British GP.
I see Bernie and his cronies are rumbling on about doing a deal with Silverstone but only if the deal is right!
That translates to we want all the money on a short term deal until something better comes up.
I hope Damon holds his ground and shoves it up the little poison dwarf but i cant see it.
We have lost too many good tracks and Bernie seems hell bent on screwing up the calender so hopefully the sponsors won't let him wipe Britain off..

22nd October 2009, 18:55	#1 (permalink)
jaffa DW Elite Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Made in Belfast Posts: 9,452 Images: 3 Thanks: 267 Thanked 587 Times in 403 Posts	Donington's Grand Prix hopes fade Donington Park's hopes of staging the British Grand Prix from 2010 look to be over after the operators' latest fund-raising attempts fell through. Earlier this month Donington launched a bond issue in an attempt to raise £135m, but that has now been withdrawn. Silverstone is ready to step back in if guaranteed the British Grand Prix would remain at the circuit long-term. Donington, whose operators are yet to comment, have missed several deadlines to provide financial guarantees. In June, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said there would definitely be a British Grand Prix in 2012, and that it would be at Silverstone if Donington failed to come through. But more recently he has backtracked and said it is not certain there will be a Grand Prix in Britain next year at all. Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, the company that operates the track, has faced legal and planning problems since being given the rights to stage the race. Chief executive Simon Gillett was initially given a deadline of the end of September to demonstrate the funding was in place to carry out the planned multi-million pound revamp of the circuit and its facilities. That deadline was extended by a few days until 3 October. Motor racing at Donington ceased in September so work could begin to prepare the venue for next year's race. Silverstone has hosted every British Grand Prix since 1987, while Donington, which is synonymous with MotoGP, has held only one F1 race, the European Grand Prix in 1993. BBC __________________ FOTB

27th October 2009, 18:41	#2 (permalink)
hoppy DW Guru Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,207 Thanks: 312 Thanked 305 Times in 173 Posts	Re: Donington's Grand Prix hopes fade Its hardly a suprise its not going ahead and a hope thats not the end of the British GP. I see Bernie and his cronies are rumbling on about doing a deal with Silverstone but only if the deal is right! That translates to we want all the money on a short term deal until something better comes up. I hope Damon holds his ground and shoves it up the little poison dwarf but i cant see it. We have lost too many good tracks and Bernie seems hell bent on screwing up the calender so hopefully the sponsors won't let him wipe Britain off..

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